Close up of an Italian Regia Aeronautica’s Junkers Ju 87B Stuka (Italian nickname “Picchiatello”) of 97th Gruppo heading to target during the war against Greece, 1941. On the landing gear fairing the Gruppo’s emblem: a duck transformed in bomb. Victor Sierra

Heading to target

Details of tail damages of the same Re.2001 of the prior picture. The Re.2001 had a good reputation among the pilots especially for its capacity of absorb also heavy battle damages as displayed by this pictures. Victor Sierra

Battle damages

After the return to base, an Italian fighter pilot of 154th Gruppo Autonomo Caccia Terrestre (Land Fighter Autonomous Group) telling his last fight. The man on the left, in working dress, is a Sottufficiale Specialista (NCO groundcrew), perhaps the same “Specialista” in charge of the pilot’s plane. The other is perhaps another pilot on summertime “relax dress”. Note the Gruppo’s emblem over the pilot’s Marus flight jacket. The aircraft is a Macchi MC.202 “Folgore”. Photo likely taken on 1942 or 1943 at Rhodes, on Aegean Front. Victor Sierra